Justice:Conference endorsed a call by North Belfast Assembly member Alban Maginness for the transfer to Stormont of policing and justice powers.
He said that the arrival of what he called "grown-up, adult politics" following devolution on May 8th necessitated the move. Otherwise, the Assembly and Executive would resemble little more than a "grand county council".
Mr Maginness reminded delegates that it was the recalling of justice powers by Westminster that led to the fall of the old Stormont government in 1972.
"One of the ironies over the devolution of policing and justice powers is that it was the very removal of these same powers by the Heath government that caused the unionist prime minister and his government to resign in protest in March 1972 and of course led to the prorogation of the Stormont parliament," he said.
"I have never understood the negative reaction by contemporary unionist representatives and their parties to the return of such powers. One would have thought, given the history, that unionists would be delighted at the return of such powers.
"I am not sure what they fear, as whatever arrangements are put in place, the powers will be and should be a shared responsibility."
Despite the lack of final agreement on the shape of any future devolution of justice powers, Mr Maginness said he was "reasonably convinced that the return of powers will take place in the near future, as planned, given the entente cordiale between the DUP and Sinn Féin".
"Devolution without justice and policing powers is a second division form of devolution," he said.